Chapter 33–Wednesday, 8:05PM

Herb killed his lights and siren when he was three blocks from Woodstalk’s apartment complex. No need to tip him off if he was there. He stopped a half block away, checked his potato gun, then slipped out from behind the wheel. Locking the door, the chief crept between the nearest houses and into the alley.

He stood stalk still watching the rookie’s complex. Cars came and went. Finally, at 8:10pm, the security lights came on. Herb scanned the parking lot. There it was. Woodstalk’s Edger 400. He was home.

Herb crouched low and ran. In less than a minute, the chief slipped into the shadow of a the parking lot’s lone tree. A sorry excuse for a tree this late in the winter, but good enough cover.

A minute later, sure he’d not been seen, Herb was about to break for Woodstalk’s vehicle when he caught movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned slowly for a better look. Between two nearby cars, strange shadows formed. In the dim light it took him a second to recognize them – Truman and Capote. He had back up.

“Don’t shoot!” he whispered as loud as he dared. “I’m coming to you.”

From the gap came the muted reply. “Chief? That you?”

“Who else?” Herb asked sarcastically.

“Come,” Truman called softly.

Herb ducked and ran low to the duo. In hushed tones, the trio discussed their plan of attack.

“Harry and S are circling around the back,” Capote informed Herb. “We’re giving them five minutes to get in position.”

“Where’s Monica?” the chief asked.

“Don’t know,” the zucchini answered. “We haven’t seen her since she disappeared from the lab. We noticed her missing after 6:30pm.”

“What about Ted and Jordan?” Herb wanted to know where everyone was.

“Back at the lab,” Truman whispered.


“What the juice for?” Herb asked.

“They’re monitoring cell phone and radio chatter in case Woodstalk makes another call,” Capote answered.

“How do you know it was him who made the call?” Herb had been thinking things through. “He didn’t make the original call, the one from Sleazy Pawn. He was with me checking compost piles when it was made. We have no idea where he was when the second call was made to the mayor’s investigators.” He paused. “I think we need to assume he has an accomplice or two.”

Neither of the techs argued the point.

“Four minutes,” Truman said, glancing at his watch. “Just to be sure. We’re hitting apartment 619. Stun grenade to the door. Quick entry.”

Herb nodded. No need for words now. Truman fixed his eyes on his timepiece and waited. At exactly five minutes, GCPD’s tech flew into motion. Capote was right behind with Herb bringing up the rear.

They stopped ten feet from 619 and Truman tossed the grenade. It’s dull thud startled a young rutabaga who rounded the corner at that moment. The small explosion sent him scurrying for cover. He didn’t see the three law enforcement officers dash through the now missing door, guns drawn.

Inside, the three fanned out, spinning this way and that, searching for their quarry. In less than a minute they’d checked every room. Woodstalk was not at home. Capote pulled the rear curtains back. He opened the window and whistled low. Herb watched as Harry and S slipped out of the shadows near the dumpster fifty feet away. They were good. He wouldn’t have seen them if they hadn’t stepped into the moonlight.

“All clear,” Capote whispered as they neared the building. The jalapeno climbed through the open window first. The prune followed with considerably more huffing and puffing.

Just as Harry fell to the floor inside, a call came to them from down the hall. “Guys! Come quick!” It was Truman and he sounded alarmed.

The prune righted himself and sprinted down the hall. The jalapeno was hot on his tail. Capote and Herb followed.

When he passed through the doorway, Herb saw Truman handing S a small plastic card. “It’s Monica’s ID badge,” Truman informed the rest. “I found it under the desk by the trash can.”

Capote turned and headed for the front door. Harry was about to follow when S called out. “Hold on, Cap! Where are you going?” he asked.

Capote stopped. “To find Agent Stewinsky,” he said without turning.

“And where is she?” S inquired.

The zucchini did not answer. S waited ten seconds then spoke. “We’ll never find her unless we think this through. Why was she here? Was she taken to or from this apartment against her will? Where would Woodstalk take her?” He paused. “Come on, Cap. I need your help. You’re the best. You can’t walk out.”

Capote turned abruptly and walked into the kitchen. “Let’s find out who he called last,” he said. The others chuckled as they heard him pick up the phone and punch redial. A second later, they heard a click as he hung up.

Poking his head around the corner, he spoke two words. “Sleazy Pawn.”